Display device for article for sale

ABSTRACT

A display device includes an article, a housing for engaging into the article and having one or more projections for engaging with the article and for locking the article to the housing, and an actuator rotatably engaged in the housing and rotatable to align with the projections for forcing the projections to engage with the article, and rotatable away from the projections for allowing the projections to be disengaged from the article. A device may lock the actuator to the housing when the actuator is aligned with the projections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device having a lockable and reusable configuration.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical display devices or hanging devices may be used for hanging the articles for sale onto the supporting walls or the like. One of the typical display devices is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and comprise an insert or a plug 12 for engaging into an opening of an article 10 for sale. A lock device 14 is engaged into the plug 12 for forcing the projections 17 of the plug 12 to engage with the article 10, and includes a hook 15 engaged through a hole 13 of the plug 12 and engageable with the plug 12 for locking the plug 12 and the article 10 together. The plug 12 includes a plate 11 secured thereto for hanging onto a supporting wall or the like.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 12, the article 10 may be removed or disengaged from the plug 12 only after the hook 15 has been damaged or cut off from the lock device 14. However, when or after the hook 15 has been damaged or cut off from the lock device 14, the lock device 14 may no longer be secured to the plug 12, and thus the article 10 also may not be secured to the plug 12, such that the article 10 may not be hung onto the supporting wall again with the plug 12 and the plate 11.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional display devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a display device including a lockable configuration for locking an article for sale and for preventing the article from being taken by the unauthorized persons.

[0008] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a display device including a reusable configuration for allowing the article to be hung onto a support with the display device after the article is unlocked from the display device.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a display device comprising an article including an opening and at least one depression formed therein, a plug device including a housing for engaging into the opening of the article, the housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an outer peripheral portion having at least one projection extended therefrom for engaging into the depression of the article, and for locking the article to the plug device, and an actuator rotatably engaged in the chamber of the housing, and rotatable to align with the projection for forcing the projection into the depression of the article, and rotatable away from the projection for allowing the projection to be disengaged from the depression of the article, and for allowing the article to be easily disengaged from the housing.

[0010] A device is further provided for limiting a rotational movement between the actuator and the housing, and includes at least one stop extended from the housing and extended inward of the chamber of the housing, for engaging with the actuator, and for limiting the rotational movement between the actuator and the housing. The stop is arranged to engage with the actuator when the actuator is aligned with the projection.

[0011] The housing includes a partition having a slot formed therein, the actuator is engaged into the chamber of the housing via the slot of the partition of the housing.

[0012] The housing includes an orifice formed in the partition and communicating with the slot of the partition, the actuator includes a neck secured thereto and rotatably received in the orifice of the partition. A board may be attached to the actuator for hanging purposes.

[0013] A device is further provided for disengaging the actuator from the slot of the partition and includes a protrusion extended in the housing, the actuator is engaged with the protrusion when the actuator is engaged into the chamber of the housing via the slot of the partition of the housing.

[0014] A device is further provided for locking the actuator to the housing when the actuator is aligned with the projection and for preventing the article from being disengaged from the housing, and includes a casing secured to the housing and having a catch provided therein, a block secured to the actuator and having a latch for engaging with the catch and for locking the block and thus the actuator to the housing.

[0015] The partition is provided between the housing and the casing and has the slot formed therein, the actuator is engaged into the chamber of the housing via the slot of the partition of the housing. The actuator includes a neck secured between the actuator and the block, and rotatably received in the orifice of the partition.

[0016] The casing includes an opening formed therein for receiving the block, and includes a recess or one or more notches formed therein for forming a bar in the casing, the latch is extended from the bar and extended inward of the opening of the casing.

[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a display device in accordance with the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is another partial exploded view of the display device;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the display device;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the display device;

[0024]FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross sectional views illustrating the operation of the display device;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view illustrating the release of the lock device of the display device;

[0026]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9;

[0027]FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view showing a typical display device for locking and hanging an article to a supporting device; and

[0028]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the typical display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-7, a display device in accordance with the present invention comprises an article 20, such as a socket 20 to be displayed and to be hung onto a supporting wall or the like. The article 20 includes a cavity 21 and one or more depressions 22 formed therein and communicating with each other.

[0030] The display device further includes a plug device 3 having a housing 31 to be engaged into the cavity 21 of the article 20. The housing 31 includes a noncircular cross section, and includes a chamber 39 formed therein for forming or defining a peripheral wall 38, and includes one or more projections 32 extended laterally outward from the peripheral wall 38 and having a semi-spherical structure, and includes one or more grooves 313 formed in the outer peripheral portion of the peripheral wall 38 for increasing the resilience of the peripheral wall 38 and for allowing the projections 32 to be engaged into the depressions 22 of the article 20 (FIGS. 7, 8).

[0031] A casing 33 is formed or provided or disposed or secured on top of the housing 31 and includes an opening 330 formed therein, and includes a recess 370 (FIGS. 3, 4) and one or more notches 372 (FIG. 2) formed therein and communicating with the opening 330 of the casing 33, for forming or defining a bar 371 in the outer peripheral portion of the casing 33. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, a tooth or a catch 37 is extended from the bar 371 and extended inward of the recess 370 and the opening 330 of the casing 33.

[0032] A partition 34 is formed or provided between the housing 31 and the casing 33, and includes a slot 35 and an orifice 36 formed therein and communicating with each other. The slot 35 of the partition 34 is diagonal or is formed diagonally relative to the housing 31, and includes a width smaller than the diameter of the orifice 36 of the partition 34. A pair of opposite stops 311 and a protrusion 310 are extended inward of the chamber 39 of the housing 31 from the peripheral wall 38.

[0033] A hanger device 4 includes a board 41 for hanging onto the supporting walls or the like, and includes a block 43 secured to the lower portion of the board 41, and an actuator 44 secured to the block 43 with a neck 42. The actuator 44 includes a width equals to or smaller than that of the slot 35 of the partition 34, for allowing the actuator 44 to be engaged through the slot 35 and to be engaged into the chamber 39 of the housing 31 (FIGS. 3, 4).

[0034] The neck 42 includes a circular cross section and includes a diameter equals to or smaller than that of the orifice 36 of the partition 34, for allowing the neck 42 to be rotatably secured to the plug device 3. The neck 42 includes a thickness no less than that of the thickness of the partition 34, for allowing the partition 34 to be engaged into the gap 46 that is formed between the block 43 and the actuator 44 (FIGS. 2, 7, 8), and for allowing the actuator 44 to be rotated relative to the housing 31 (FIGS. 4, 6) after the actuator 44 has been engaged into the chamber 39 of the housing 31. The plug device 3 and the hanger device 4 may thus be locked together after the actuator 44 is rotated relative to the housing 31.

[0035] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 5-8, when the actuator 44 is rotated to engage its ends or sides 441 with the peripheral wall 38, the projections 32 may be forced into the depressions 22 of the article 20 (FIGS. 7, 8), for locking the article 20 to the housing 31 of the plug device 3. Either or both of the stops 311 may engage with the sides 441 of the actuator 44 for limiting the rotational movement of the actuator 44 relative to the housing 31, and for retaining the alignment of the actuator 44 with the projections 32, and for preventing the projections 32 from being disengaged from the depressions 22 of the article 20.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the sides 441 of the actuator 44 are rounded, for allowing the actuator 44 to be engaged or moved over the protrusion 310 when the actuator 44 is engaged into the chamber 39 of the housing 31. The actuator 44 is preferably made of a material having a suitable resilience for allowing the actuator 44 to be slightly bent or twisted while moving over the protrusion 310. After moving over the protrusion 310, the actuator 44 will be disengaged from or will be prevented from being aligned with the slot 35 of the partition 34, such that the actuator 44 may be prevented from moving through the slot 35 of the partition 34 and may be prevented from being disengaged from the housing 31 of the plug device 3.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the block 43 includes a latch 45 formed or provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof for engaging with the catch 37 and for locking the hanger device 4 to the plug device 3. Particularly, when the actuator 44 is aligned with the projections 32 for forcing the projections 32 into the depressions 22 of the article 20 (FIGS. 6-8) and for locking the article 20 to the housing 31, the latch 45 may engage with the catch 37 and may lock the hanger device 4 to the plug device 3, and may prevent the actuator 44 from being disengaged from the projections 32, and thus may prevent the article 20 from being disengaged and removed from the plug device 3 and the hanger device 4.

[0038] Referring next to FIGS. 9 and 10, after displaying purposes, or after the user has bought the display device, the bar 371 and the catch 37 may be removed from the casing 33, such that the latch 45 will not engage with the catch 37. In this condition, the actuator 44 may also be rotated to align and to force the projections 32 into the depressions 22 of the article 20 (FIGS. 6-8), for locking the article 20 to the housing 31 of the plug device 3; and may also be rotated away from the projections 32 (FIG. 5), for allowing the projections 32 to be disengaged from the depressions 22 of the article 20 and for allowing the article 20 to be disengaged from the housing 31 of the plug device 3.

[0039] Accordingly, the display device in accordance with the present invention includes a lockable configuration for locking an article for sale and for preventing the article from being taken by the unauthorized persons, and includes a reusable configuration for allowing the article to be hung onto a support with the display device after the article is unlocked from the display device.

[0040] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. A display device comprising: an article including an opening and at least one depression formed therein, a plug device including a housing for engaging into said opening of said article, said housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an outer peripheral portion having at least one projection extended therefrom for engaging into said at least one depression of said article, and for locking said article to said plug device, and an actuator rotatably engaged in said chamber of said housing, and rotatable to align with said at least one projection for forcing said at least one projection into said at least one depression of said article, and is rotatable away from said at least one projection for allowing said at least one projection to be disengaged from said at least one depression of said article.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes means for limiting a rotational movement between said actuator and said housing.
 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein said limiting means includes at least one stop extended from said housing and extended inward of said chamber of said housing, for engaging with said actuator, and for limiting the rotational movement between said actuator and said housing.
 4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one stop is arranged to engage with said actuator when said actuator is aligned with said at least one projection.
 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a partition having a slot formed therein, said actuator is engaged into said chamber of said housing via said slot of said partition of said housing.
 6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein said housing includes an orifice formed in said partition and communicating with said slot of said partition, said actuator includes a neck secured thereto and rotatably received in said orifice of said partition.
 7. The display device according to claim 5 further comprising a board attached to said actuator for hanging purposes.
 8. The display device according to claim 5 further comprising means for disengaging said actuator from said slot of said partition.
 9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein said disengaging means includes a protrusion extended in said housing, said actuator is engaged with said protrusion when said actuator is engaged into said chamber of said housing via said slot of said partition of said housing.
 10. The display device according to claim 1 further comprising means for locking said actuator to said housing when said actuator is aligned with said at least one projection.
 11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein said locking means includes a casing secured to said housing and having a catch provided therein, a block secured to said actuator and having a latch for engaging with said catch and for locking said block and thus said actuator to said housing.
 12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein said housing includes a partition provided between said housing and said casing and having a slot formed therein, said actuator is engaged into said chamber of said housing via said slot of said partition of said housing.
 13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein said housing includes an orifice formed in said partition and communicating with said slot of said partition, said actuator includes a neck secured between said actuator and said block, and rotatably received in said orifice of said partition.
 14. The display device according to claim 11, wherein said casing includes an opening formed therein for receiving said block, and includes a recess formed therein for forming a bar in said casing, said latch is extended from said bar and extended inward of said opening of said casing.
 15. The display device according to claim 11, wherein said casing includes an opening formed therein for receiving said block, and includes at least one notch formed therein for forming a bar in said casing, said latch is extended from said bar and extended inward of said opening of said casing. 